Poker table accommodating multiple dealers to facilitate play of multiple poker games simultaneously

ABSTRACT

An elliptical, poker table incorporating two dealer stations with each dealer station including one or more of the following: automatic card shuffler, chip rack, poker cards and drop box. In one configuration, the two dealer stations are positioned oppositely on long sides of the poker table and may be offset from one another. The poker table layout may include two chip areas at each player station to accommodate different sets of chips—one for each poker game being played simultaneously. The poker table layout may depict two distinguishable common card areas and betting areas. Chip separators may be positioned near each player station to maintain an independence of player chip stacks. One poker table incorporates a live dealer station and electronic poker system permitting a live poker game and electronic poker game to be played substantially simultaneously.

CROSS-REFERENCES

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/416,347 filed Mar. 9, 2012 which is incorporated herein for all purposes. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/416,250 and 13/454,001 filed Mar. 9, 2012 and Apr. 23, 2012, respectively, which are both incorporated herein for all purposes. This application is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application Nos. ______ and ______, filed ______ and ______, respectively, which are both incorporated herein for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a poker table configured to accommodate two or more dealers for conducting two or more poker games simultaneously

BACKGROUND

Conventional casino style poker tables are elliptical in shape and accommodate ten or eleven players and a dealer. The poker table includes a table cut-out at the dealer station allowing the dealer to sit comfortably close to the table so that the dealer is able to deal cards and pass chips to players and also reach chips and cards passed in the direction of the dealer by the players.

Applicant has invented a poker game concept whereby players are able to play two poker games simultaneously. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a new poker table configured to accommodate two dealers for conducting the two poker games simultaneously.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present invention are directed to an elliptical, poker table incorporating two dealer stations with each dealer station including one or more of the following: automatic card shuffler, chip rack and chips, poker cards and drop box. In one embodiment, the two dealer stations are positioned oppositely on long sides of the poker table and may be offset from one another. The poker table layout may include two chip areas at each player station to accommodate different distinguishable sets of poker chips—one for each poker game being played simultaneously. In one embodiment, the poker table depicts two common card areas proximate each dealer station to further maintain the independence of each poker game being played simultaneously.

In another embodiment, using a single chip set, the layout depicts distinguishable betting areas for each game and the table incorporates a physical chip stack separator at each player position.

In another embodiment, one dealer may be a live person and one dealer may be electronic and driven by a processor. In another embodiment, the poker table having two independent dealer stations may be convertible to a dealer table with a single dealer table.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an overhead view of a poker table according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an overhead view of the poker table of FIG. 1 with distinct common card areas proximate the dealer stations according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an overhead view of player position with distinct betting areas suitable for a single chip set embodiment according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of a chip stack separator of the type useable at each player station to maintain an independence of chips for each player according to the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an overhead view of a poker table with a single live dealer station and player displays facilitating an electronic dealer according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.

FIG. 1 shows an overhead view of a poker table 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the poker table 100 is elliptical in shape but those skilled in the art will recognize that other shapes are possible (e.g., circular and square). The poker table 100 incorporates a pair of dealer stations 110-1 and 110-2 and accommodates ten players at ten player stations 115-1 through 115-10. The poker table 100 may accommodate more or less than ten player stations. Depending on the embodiment, each dealer station 110-1 and 110-2 may include an automatic card shuffler 120, chip rack and chips 130 and drop box 140. In one embodiment, as shown, the dealer stations 110-1 and 110-2 are positioned oppositely on long sides of the poker table 100 in an offset relationship. Other dealer station positions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments of the present invention. Each dealer station 110-1 and 110-2 is defined by a cut-out area 112. Two dealer stations 110-1 and 110-2 permit two poker games to be played simultaneously on the poker table 100. While two dealer stations 110-1 and 110-2 are shown, more than two dealer stations are conceivable. A padded railing 155 circumscribes the poker table 100 in a conventional fashion.

A poker table layout 150 depicts two chip areas 160, 165 at each player station 115-1 through 115-10. The two chip areas 160, 165, like the poker chips, may be colored differently or otherwise distinguished from one another to allow players to keep chips from the two poker games segregated. FIG. 2 shows the poker table 100 of FIG. 1 with distinct common card areas 170-1 and 170-2 proximate the dealer stations 110-1 and 110-2, respectively. The common card areas 170-1 and 170-2 may be defined by different colored borders or otherwise distinguished.

In one embodiment, a single chip set may be used to play the two poker games (e.g., Limit Texas Hold'em). In such an embodiment, separation of the poker chips is important to know which pot which chips should be placed. FIG. 3 shows a table layout 200 depicting multiple betting areas 205-1 and 205-2 near each player station 210-1 through 210-10 (although only one set of betting areas 205-1, 205-2 is shown for one of the player positions). In one embodiment, the cards for each poker game and betting areas for each poker game are color-coded. For example, cards, common card areas and betting areas for a first poker game are red and cards, common card areas and betting areas for a second poker game are blue. Similarly, dealer buttons may be color-coded to match the color of the corresponding poker game.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, each player's chip stack may be segregated using a physical chip stack separator 215 at each player station 210-1 through 210-10. As shown, the physical chip stack separator 215 extends from a slot or groove 216 in the poker table 217 to form a barrier between a first chip area 218 for the chips associated with the first poker game and a second chip area 219 for the chips associated with the second poker game. The chip stack separator 215 reduces the opportunity for players to intentionally or inadvertently mix chips from a first poker games with those from a second poker game.

In another embodiment, two simultaneous poker hands are managed by a live dealer, located at a live dealer station 400, and an electronic dealer, managed by a processor (not shown). In such an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, each player position at the table 300 includes a display 405, and a common display 410 which may be used to display common cards. A processor including, or in communication with, a random number generator controls play of one game of poker facilitated by said player displays 405 and common card display 410. User interfaces incorporated into the displays 405 are configured to allow players to make poker game decisions, including making wagers, folding, raising and calling. Electronic poker tables are known in the art and need not be explained in minute detail herein. One such electronic poker table is promoted and sold under the name PokerPro by PokerTek, Inc., headquartered in North Carolina. As set forth above, relative to two live dealers, the live dealer and electronic dealer/system conduct two poker games substantially simultaneously at the poker table. If the two poker games are configured to start together, the live dealer may trigger the start of the electronic dealer via a game interface integrated into the poker table or via a remote control unit. If the two poker games are configured to continue independently of one another, the live dealer need only focus on the live poker game while the electronic dealer/system handles the electronic poker game.

As detailed above, the poker tables 100 and 300 and poker table layouts 150 and 200 facilitate the play of two poker games simultaneously. The play of two poker games simultaneously satisfies the need for “action” by poker players, especially younger players accustomed to playing multiple tables simultaneously in an online environment. In addition, the card room or poker club benefits from additional poker table revenue, which may be greater than twice normal poker table revenues, without raising overhead significantly (e.g., an additional dealer).

The poker table 100 may be suitable to conduct any number of simultaneous poker games including Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A poker table comprising: a layout; a chip stack separator attached to said poker table at each player station; and two dealer stations each including one or more of the following: (i) automatic card shuffler; (ii) chip rack and chips; (iii) poker cards; and (iv) drop box; and wherein said two dealer stations facilitate the play of two poker games simultaneously.
 2. The poker table of claim 1 wherein said layout depicts two distinguishable chip areas at each player station on said layout.
 3. The poker table of claim 1 wherein said poker table is elliptical in shape.
 4. The poker table of claim 3 wherein said two dealer stations are positioned oppositely along long sides of the poker table.
 5. The poker table of claim 1 wherein the automatic card shufflers are integrated into the poker table.
 6. The poker table of claim 1 wherein said two dealer stations are defined by cut-out areas.
 7. The poker table of claim 1 wherein said layout depicts two distinguishable common card areas.
 8. The poker table of claim 1 wherein said layout depicts two distinguishable betting areas for each player station.
 9. A poker table comprising: a chip separator attached to said poker table at each player position; and a layout configured to accommodate multiple player stations and at least two dealer stations, each of said dealer stations including one or more of the following: (i) automatic card shuffler; (ii) chip rack and chips; (iii) poker cards; and (iv) drop box; and wherein said two or more dealer stations facilitate the play of two or more poker games simultaneously.
 10. The poker table of claim 9 wherein said layout depicts two distinguishable chip areas at each player station.
 11. The poker table of claim 9 wherein said poker table is elliptical in shape.
 12. The poker table of claim 11 wherein said two dealer stations are positioned oppositely along long sides of the poker table.
 13. The poker table of claim 9 wherein the automatic card shufflers are integrated into the poker table.
 14. The poker table of claim 9 wherein said two dealer stations are defined by cut-out areas.
 15. The poker table of claim 9 wherein said layout depicts two distinguishable common card areas.
 16. The poker table of claim 9 wherein said layout depicts two distinguishable betting areas for each player station.
 17. A poker table comprising: a layout; a live dealer station including one or more of the following: (i) automatic card shuffler; (ii) chip rack and chips; (iii) poker cards; and (iv) drop box; a player display at each player station, each said player display configured to display each player's hole cards; a common card display configured to display common cards; a user interface at each player station configured to allow players to make poker game decisions; a processor configured to control said player displays, common card display and user interfaces; and wherein said live dealer station allows a live dealer to manage a first poker game while said processor controls a second poker game, via said player displays, common card displays and user interfaces, substantially simultaneously to said first poker game. 